Method and apparatus for playing a game

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus is disclosed for playing a variation of Texas hold&#39;em having preset opening hands and odds for winning by betting on the opening hands.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/951,382, entitled Method and Apparatus for Playing a Game, filed on Jul. 23, 2007, and incorporated herein, by reference.

This application also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/969,343, entitled Method and Apparatus for Playing a Game, filed on Aug. 31, 2007, and incorporated herein, by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for playing a game. More specifically, the present invention is directed towards a method and apparatus for playing a variation of Texas hold'em having preset opening hands and odds for winning by betting on the opening hands.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Texas hold'em; also known as hold'em or holdem, is currently a very popular game in the United States. One of the draws of this game, besides being a game of chance, is that it allows players to match their skills and luck against other players at a table in a casino or poker card room.

Texas hold'em is played by two cards being dealt to each player at a table. The cards are dealt face down from a standard 52 card deck with no jokers. The pair of cards dealt to each player are typically referred to as the player's hole or pocket cards.

After the hole cards are dealt, a round of betting begins wherein each player can fold, put in all of their chips, or match the amount put in by all other active players. Next, the dealer deals a flop consisting of three face-up community cards, wherein this is followed by a second round of betting.

After the round of betting round, a single community card is dealt called the turn or fourth street, followed by another round of betting. Next, a final single community card is dealt called the river or fifth street, following by yet another round of betting and determination of a winner(s) using the standard rules of poker wherein each player's hand consists of the best five (5) cards from the five (5) community cards and the player's two (2) hole cards.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A method and apparatus is provided for playing a game. In an embodiment, the game is similar to Texas hold'em. However, all hole or pocket cards are visible to all players wherein, before any cards are dealt, a player can bet on any of the hole card pairs having associated predetermined odds that the hole card pair will be the winner after all community cards are dealt.

In an embodiment in accordance with the present invention, an apparatus is provided comprising a gaming table having a playing surface with markings thereon. The markings depicting: one or more pre-dealt pairs of playing cards; a bet placing area associated with the one or more pairs of playing cards, a flop cards placing area, a turn card placing area, a river card placing area; and odds associated with the one or more pairs of playing cards comprising winning poker hand when combined with one or more community cards placed on the flop cards placing area, the turn card placing area and the river card placing area.

In yet another embodiment in accordance with the present invention a method is provided. The method includes providing indicia to represent one or more pairs of playing cards, a flop cards display area, a turn card display area, a river card display area; and odds associated with the one or more pairs of playing cards comprising a winning poker hand when combined with one or more community cards displayed about the flop cards display area, the turn card display area, and the river card display area.

Other embodiments, systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present invention will be, or will become, apparent to one having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be within the scope of the present invention, and can be protected by the accompanying claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In the drawings, like reference numbers designate corresponding parts throughout.

FIG. 1 is a simplified plan view of an embodiment of a board or table in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following descriptions of detailed embodiments are for exemplifying the principles and advantages of the inventions claimed herein. They are not to be taken in any way as limitations on the scope of the inventions.

In an embodiment in accordance with the present invention, a board or table is provided for playing a casino table game against the house. In particular, the table game is a modified version of Texas hold'em wherein odds are provided for pre-dealt opening hands that are viewable, and selectable, by any and all players.

Accordingly, turning to FIG. 1, a board or table 12 is depicted in accordance with the present invention. In an embodiment, the table 12 has a top 14 with a back edge or perimeter portion 16 and a front edge or perimeter portion 18 that, if desired, can be provided with a conventional padded armrest (not shown).

The top 14 of the table 12 can be covered with conventional wool felt 20 that is green or red in color. Further, the top 14 can include a conventional chip tray or rack 22 and a cash slot 24.

Printed on the felt 20 on the top 14 of the table 12 are indicia or markings. The indicia or markings can be applied using any conventional manner known in the art for applying inks or prints to the felt of gaming tables such as craps tables, blackjack tables, baccarat tables, and the like.

In an embodiment, the indicia or markings provide for representing or displaying opening hands of conventional playing cards 26A-J. Alternatively, instead of being printed on the felt 20, the hands 26A-J consist of cards that are fixed to the table 12 with glue or the like.

Preferably, but not necessarily, a total of ten (10) preset opening hands of cards 26A-J can be provided. However, as will be appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art, more or less than ten (10) hands can be provided in alternative embodiments.

Each opening hand 26A-J preferably consists of two cards that are facing up so they are publicly viewable by persons standing or sitting around the table 12. In an embodiment, but not necessarily: opening hand 26A consists of a king of spades and a queen of spades; opening hand 26B consists of a three of spades and a three of hearts; opening hand 26C consists of a jack of hearts and a ten of hearts; opening hand 26D consists of a four of clubs and a five of clubs; opening hand 26E consists of a two of diamonds and a seven of clubs; opening hand 26F consists of an ace of clubs and a king of diamonds; opening hand 26G consists of a six of spades and a six of diamonds; opening hand 26H consists of an ace of spades and an ace of hearts; opening hand 26I consists of a nine of spades and a nine of hearts; and, opening hand 26J consists of a seven of diamonds and an eight of diamonds.

Associated with each of the hands 26A-J are preset odds 28A-J. In an embodiment, the odds 28A-J are in the house's favor. The odds 38A-J can be printed on the fabric 20 of the table 12 in an area adjacent to the associated hand 26A-J. For instance, odds 28A are adjacent to hand 26A, odds 28B are adjacent to hand 26B, odds 28C are adjacent to hand 26C, and so on.

In an embodiment, but not necessarily: the odds 28A associated with hand 26A are seven to one; the odds 28B associated with hand 26B are eight to one; the odds 28C associated with hand 26C are five to one; the odds 28D associated with hand 26D are seven to one; the odds 28E associated with hand 26E are thirty-two to one; the odds 28F associated with hand 26F are twenty-five to one; the odds 28G associated with hand 26G are seven to one; the odds 28H associated with hand 26H are eight to one; the odds 28I associated with hand 26I are six to one; and, the odds 28J associated with hand 26J are seven to one.

A dealer (not shown) stands or sits behind the back 16 of the table 12. As such, the chip tray 22 is located in front of the dealer on the top 14 of the table. Also located in front of the dealer and on top of the table is a community cards placing area 32 comprising a flop cards placing area 34A-C, a turn card placing area 36 and a river card placing area 38.

The community cards placing area 32 can be delineated or demarked by the indicia or markings printed on the felt 20 on the top 16 of the table 12. As previously stated, the indicia or markings can be applied using any conventional manner known in the art for applying inks or prints to the felt or fabric of gaming tables.

A conventional fifty-two (52) card deck of Anglo-American playing cards is used in playing the game in accordance with the present invention wherein some of the cards are removed from the deck. As known by those having ordinary skill in the art, a deck of Anglo-American playing cards includes thirteen ranks of four suits consisting of diamonds (♦), spades

hearts (♡) and clubs

Removed from the deck 40 are those cards that match those depicted on the top of the table. For example, in an embodiment wherein the cards depicted in FIG. 1 are displayed on the table, then the following cards are removed from the deck: the ace, king, queen, six and three of spades; the ace, jack, ten, nine and three of hearts; the ace, nine, seven, five and four of clubs; the king, eight, seven, six and two of diamonds. Thus, no cards in the deck duplicate those shown on the top of the table. Thus, in this example, the deck 40 consists of thirty-two (32) cards.

In an embodiment, the game begins by players placing bets on which pair of opening face-up hands 26A-J will be the winning hand when combined with the community cards that are dealt in conventional Texas hold'em fashion after all bets have been placed. The bets can be placed by placing chips, representing a monetary value, in the betting area 30A-J adjacent to the opening hand 26A-J that a player believes will win. If a player desires, he or she can bet on more than one opening hand.

After all bets are placed, the dealer deals the community cards from the deck wherein, in conventional Texas hold'em fashion, the cards are placed in, or about, area 32 of the table. Preferably, but not necessary, three flop community cards from the deck are placed face-up on area 34A-C of the table 12, one turn community card is placed face-up on area 36 of the table, and one river community card is placed face-up on area 38 of the table.

The cards can be placed by the dealer, in area 32, in a manner wherein a delay occurs between the placement of the flop community cards, the turn community card, and the river community card. During this delay, the dealer can announce which opening hand is currently winning when combined with the community cards, and the future prospects, if any, of any or all other opening hands.

Winning players are those that bet on the opening pair of cards that made the winning hand according to the conventional rules of poker. As such, winning payouts are made at the preset odds 28A-J for the corresponding opening hand 26A-J. For instance, if a player bet ten dollars ($10) on an opening hand having 7-1 odds, then the player would receive $70 if he or she had the winning hand.

In the case of a two-way tie, each player receives less than the normal winning payout for the odds associated with the opening hand bet by each player. Preferably, but not necessarily, in the case of a two-way tie, each player receives half of the normal winning payout for the odds associated with the opening hand bet by the player. For instance, if a player bet $10 on an opening hand having 7-1 odds, then the player would receive $35. Further, in the case of a community tie, all players receive back their original bets.

In accordance with the conventional rules of poker, community cards (i.e., the cards placed in area 32) can be used by any or all of the players to makeup a five (5) card hand. Determination of a winning five (5) card hand follows the conventional rules of poker. Ranked for highest to lowest, the hand rankings are: straight flush, four of a kind, full house, flush, straight, three of a kind, two pair, one pair, and high card.

In an embodiment in accordance with the present invention, the rules of a game are such that: 1) the game consists of one or more players; 2) the games starts with ten (10) preset face-up hands on a board or table; 3) each hand has set odds on it winning prior to the dealer dealing out communal cards; 4) each player places a bet on which hand(s) he or she thinks will win after all of the community cards are dealt out; 5) after a set amount of time of player betting, the dealer announces the end of betting followed by dealing the cards in typical Texas hold'em fashion as described in the next three steps; 6) first, the dealer deals the flop which consists of a burn card (i.e., a discarded card) and then three (3) face-up cards; 7) then, the dealer deals another burn card and another face-up card on the turn; 8) next, the dealer deals the river, consisting of a final burn card and a final face-up card, which result in all of the community cards; 9) the dealer then proceeds to show the winning hand according to conventional poker rules, and the winning hand receives a payout according to the predetermined odds associated with the winning hand; 10) should a tie occur between two hands, then each hand receives half of the payout for the predetermined odds; and, 11) if a communal tie occurs, then every player receives back their original bet.

As depicted in FIG. 1, the markings on the playing surface 20 can also include phrases such as “hold'em,” “holdem” or “hold em. Thus, potential players can readily determine the game being played at the table 12.

It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present invention, particularly, any “preferred” embodiments, are possible examples of implementations merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles for the invention. For instance, the present invention is not intended to be limited to ten hands or Texas hold'em. The invention can be applied to any form of poker game with any set amount of hands. Many other variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) of the invention without substantially departing from the spirit and principles of the invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and the present invention, and protected by the following claims. 

1. An apparatus comprising: a gaming table having a playing surface; markings on said playing surface depicting one or more pre-dealt pairs of playing cards; a bet placing area associated with said one or more pairs of playing cards, a flop cards placing area, a turn card placing area, a river card placing area; and odds associated with said one or more pairs of playing cards having a winning poker hand when combined with one or more community cards placed on said flop cards placing area, said turn card placing area, and said river card placing area.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of the pre-dealt pairs comprising a pair of aces.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the odds associated with the pair of aces is 8-1.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of the pre-dealt pairs comprising a king and a queen of the same suit.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the odds associated with the pair comprising a king and a queen is 7-1.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, the markings on said playing surface further depicting the phrase “hold'em,” “holdem” or “hold em.”
 7. An apparatus comprising: a table having an upper surface; indicia on said upper surface representing one or more pairs of playing cards, a bet placing area associated with said one or more pairs of playing cards, a flop cards placing area, a turn card placing area, a river card placing area; and odds associated with said one or more pairs of playing cards having a winning poker hand when combined with one or more community cards placed on said flop cards placing area, said turn card placing area, and said river card placing area.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein at least one of the pre-dealt pairs comprising a pair of aces.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the odds associated with the pair of aces is 8-1.
 10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein at least one of the pre-dealt pairs comprising a king and a queen of the same suit.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the odds associated with the pair comprising a king and a queen is 7-1.
 12. The apparatus of claim 7, the markings on said playing surface further depicting the phrase “hold'em,” “holdem” or “hold em.”
 13. A method comprising the steps of: providing indicia to represent one or more pairs of playing cards, a flop cards display area, a turn card display area, a river card display area; and odds associated with said one or more pairs of playing cards having a winning poker hand when combined with one or more community cards displayed about said flop cards display area, said turn card display area, and said river card display area; and, displaying additional cards to complete the hands.
 14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of providing a gaming table having the markings printed thereon.
 15. The method of claim 14, the markings on said playing surface further depicting the phrase “hold'em,” “holdem” or “hold em.”
 16. The method of claim 13 wherein the indicia further represents a bet placing area associated with said one or more pairs of playing cards.
 17. The method of claim 13 wherein at least one of the pre-dealt pairs comprising a pair of aces.
 18. The method of claim 17 wherein the odds associated with the pair of aces is 8-1.
 19. The method of claim 13 wherein at least one of the pre-dealt pairs comprising a king and a queen of the same suit.
 20. The method of claim 19 wherein the odds associated with the pair comprising a king and a queen is 7-1. 